1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

APPROACHED STOP SIGN AND PRESSED BRAKES WHICH MADE A LOUD GRATING METAL SOUND WHICH HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AS I SLID INTO INTERSECTION I FLIPPED GEARS TO PARK WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REAR BRAKES WERE PRACTICALLY UNUSED AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN OUT WHICH LED THEM TO BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOT CONNECTED OR FUNCTIONING AND HAD NOT DONE SO FOR SOME TIME. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THIS UNDER OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE FAULTY PART INVOLVED. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT CAME OF THIS INCIDENT. *AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAUGE WOULD REMAIN ON EMPTY SIDE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM BECAUSE GAUGE WAS WORKING AT THAT TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE PUTTING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE CABIN FILLS WITH FUEL ODORS, THE ODOR IS VERY STRONG AND STAYS FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINUTES, THE ODOR MAKES THE CONSUMERS SICK, SO THEY ARE REQUESTING A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SLC

AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK CONSUMER ENTERED HOUSE AND HE WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS NEIGHBOR THAT VEHICLE WAS ON ROAD. VEHICLE MUST BE IN PARK BEFORE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 20 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR VAN WE HAD TO JUMP START IT AND LOST THE CABLE ON THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. SINCE THEN THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS WORKED ON BUT STILL STALLS OUT SOMETIMES.THE TRANSMISSION STILL JERKS IN PARK.(THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM.) FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, AFTER A NEW CABLE,NUMEROUS ADJUSTINGS,ALIGHNMENTS AND TWO CONTROL MODULES PUT IN. IT STILL WORKS ERATICLEY AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO SEE A PROBLEM. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, WHEN IT FINALLY OPENS IT WILL NOT SHUT. WHEN IT IS CLOSED IT DOES NOT LATCH AND THE INTERIOR AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS STAY ON. IT CONSTANTLEY MAKES A RACKET AND POPPING NOISE. ON OCCASION THE DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD!! WORKING WITH A FORD REP HE STATES THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO BRING IT IN "AGAIN" FOR REPAIRS. BUT THEY REALLY CAN'T SEE A PROBLEM. HE DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME 1,500 REBATE TOWARDS ANOTHER VAN OR TRADE IN. I TOLD HIM I WANTED THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE MASHED NO FURTHER OWNERS. HE SAID THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR REPORT ON 1999 AND 2000 WINDSTARS AND THE SAME REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES AND SLIDING DOORS.THEN COMPARING TO OTHER MAKES OF MINI VANS AND THERE FEW PROBLEMS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO OWN ANOTHER FORD!! I WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS PROBLEM TO THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. I'TS TO BAD FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS.*AK

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THE HORN PAD/BUTTON. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIX DUE TO CONFIGURATION. *CJ

SAFETY PROBLEM: PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWERED SLIDING DOOR. DRIVE CABLE COVER BECOMES LOOSE AND JAMS IN GUIDE HOLE PREVENTING DOOR FROM OPENING PRESENTING SAFETY PROBLEM TO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS. TOOK OVER TWO WEEKS FOR SERVICING DEALER TO GET PARTS AND IN MEANTIME REAR SEARS WERE UNUSABLE FOR PASSENGERS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH FELT A SHARP JERK TO THE SIDE. ONCE CORRECTED, JERKED AGAIN THE OTHER WAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE FIRST INCIDENT. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

HORN BUTTON WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN NEEDED IN A "HURRY-UP" SITUATION. EXACT LOCATION MUST BE DEPRESSED FOR HORN TO BLOW. NEVER HAS THE HORN BLOWN WHEN I NEEDED IT IN A HURRY. USE OF THE HEEL OR PALM OF YOUR HAND WILL NOT BLOW THE HORN. YOU MUST LOCATE THE HORN EMBLEM FIRST, THEN DEPRESS THE HORN THERE. IN A HURRY-UP NEED FOR THE HORN, THERE IS NO TIME TO FIND THE BUTTON. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE AIR BAG INSTALLED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEREFORE THERE IS ONLY A SMALL AREA THAT WILL ACTIVATE THE HORN. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD MANY OCCASSIONS TO BLOW THE HORN FOR SOMEONE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO ME, OR CHANGING LANES WITH A THREAT OF SIDESWIPING ME. WHEN I HIT THE HORN WITH THE HEEL OF MY HAND, THERE IS NO RESPONSE. IN THE 2 YEARS + THAT I'VE HAD THE CAR, I'VE STILL BEEN UNABLE TO OVERCOME THIS BY TRYING TO HIT JUST THE RIGHT SPOT TO BLOW THE HORN. I HAVE INQUIRED WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHEN I SEE ONE IN A PARKING LOT. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. BASICALLY, THEY SAY, AND I AGREE, THE HORN IS NON-FUNCTIONAL WHEN NEEDED IN A HURRY. *AK